When it comes to medical malpractice, most people think of surgical errors. But there are many other kinds of treatment errors that could lead to a valid medical malpractice lawsuit - which just means a doctor, hospital or HMO didn't follow established patient safety rules. As medical malpractice lawyers, here are some of the most common malpractice errors we investigate in the D.C. area:

Prescriptions Drug Errors

Incorrect or improper prescriptions can still be a form of medical malpractice claims. If the drugs given to a patient are mistakenly prescribed-- if a drug known to cause birth defects is prescribed to a pregnant patient or a patient is prescribed two different drugs that have harmful interactive effects-- the treating physician has violated the standard of care. If the pharmacy fills the wrong prescription or dosage, and that hurts the patient, that is a form of malpractice as well.

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis cases are more common when a cancer diagnosis is missed or a serious condition is treated like a less serious condition and it gets worse in the meantime.

Although misdiagnosis is common, it can be difficult to prove due to the uncertain nature of medicine. Misdiagnosing cancer by treating it as another condition or ailment, or by diagnosing cancer when it is something else is one of the most common misdiagnosis scenarios.

Failure to Treat

Failure to treat occurs when the doctor reaches the correct diagnosis, but fails to treat the condition with the standard of care.

Premature discharge, failure to refer a patient to a specialist, and lack of proper follow up can result in treatment plans that may not meet the needs of the patient. Usually this is a failure of a system - several health care workers drop the ball and its especially frustrating because the diagnosis is made, the condition is known and it's treatable.

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are another common reason for medical malpractice claims. When a patient goes in for surgery, they are placing a lot of trust into the surgeon and his team and expect to receive the right surgery on the correct body part that they need. Not following medical safety procedures can lead to wrong site surgeries and surgical instruments being left in the patient's body.

Sometimes it starts with the anesthesia. The anesthesiologist could administer too much or not enough, not review the patient's chart for allergies, contra indications and history, or not monitor the patient during the surgery.

What can you do to prevent these common medical mistakes? If you or someone you know will be hospitalized or undergo surgery, be sure to order your copy of 7 Symptoms of Medical Malpractice: How Every Patient Can Recognize, Stop and Avoid Medical Mistakes.

Need more specific information on medical mistakes? Call us to discuss your situation in confidence. The call and any resources we can give you are free.

Are you suspicious that your child's condition or injury was caused by medical mistakes in D.C., Maryland or Virginia? You may have nagging doubts, or a pediatrician may have mentioned it, or your friends or relatives may think you should get a lawyer. You see TV commercials every day for birth injuries, cerebral palsy, medical malpractice - what does it all mean?

Written by practicing, board certified D.C. medical malpractice attorneys, it is based on our experience working with families over many years. It won't give you all the answers - no book can. But it's a good start for any parent or family struggling with this issue.

Order this free gift today by calling (202) 393 - 3320. There is absolutely no obligation. It's a free gift (while supplies last).

Like all of us - bus drivers, accountants, construction workers, lawyers, we all have rules to follow. And nurses, doctors, hospital techs, specialists, consultants are no different. Everyone in healthcare has rules to follow - rules that are in place to keep patients safe.

So if you think someone you know was seriously injured because someone in healthcare didn't follow the rules, or a hospital didn't have a system to make sure the right thing was done, call us or send us a confidential email. We'll give you as much information as we can about preventable medical mistakes in D.C., Maryland or Virginia and holding the healthcare system accountable for breaking the rules.

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